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For Will Stein, the roots in Kroger Field soil run deep.   A native Kentuckian, Stein is the son of UK alumni – father Matt played football at UK and mother Debbie is an avid fan – and he inherited their passion as he grew up watching the Wildcats in the then-Commonwealth Stadium, section 128, row 13 to be exact.  He later competed in the stadium as a collegiate quarterback and assistant coach.   On Dec. 2, 2025, the family’s journey came full circle as Stein was named head coach of Kentucky football.  “Will Stein brings an outstanding track record of developing elite quarterbacks and leading some of the most dynamic and successful offenses in college football,” Barnhart said. “His deep connection to Kentucky, having grown up attending games in ...

How safe are we in Lexington?  Today this “top of mind” issue will be addressed by two experts, one from the public sector, one from the private sector.  Chief Lawrence Weathers Lexington’s Chief Lawrence B. Weathers is a native of Lexington Kentucky. He joined the Lexington Division of Police in 1989. He has a Masters of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.  He began his police career as a patrol officer and has worked as a supervisor in every Bureau of the Lexington Police Department from ...

The Rotary podium will be taken over by Scott Neal on behalf of the Scholarship Committee, as we continue our tradition of recognizing the best and the brightest of our Central Kentucky high schoolers and educators.  This year’s challenge to the committee was to identify three outstanding students to each receive $5,000 awards, with one of them to also be named as the Milward Cup recipient, recognizing achievement in following the Rotary motto of Service Above Self.  Each applicant was asked to provide essays, one addressing why the applicant deserves the award and one addressing the financial impact this award would have ...

Mention Rotary and its good works and it is likely that the PolioPlus campaign will be the first thing to come to mind. The PolioPlus campaign was initiated by Rotary International back in 1985, before many of our current members were born. Because it largely involves activities geographically removed from us, it would be easy to lose sight of the program’s continued importance and needs. Today’s speaker, Leon Hirsh, is here to ensure that doesn’t happen. Past District Governor Hirsh was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a graduate of the Kentucky Military Institute and Transylvania University. Leon has lived in Pensacola, Florida since 1980. He remains a practicing financial advisor and has spent the lion's share of his ...

As April slowly meanders into Spring, we find ourselves in what is arguably the high season in Kentucky. The charm and gentility of the Keeneland Spring meet morphs into the pomp and circumstance of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. Both are instrumental to Kentucky’s claim of being the “horse capital of the world. Today Rotarians are privileged to hear about both, from two individuals who, as they say, should know: Gabby Gaudet, Keeneland’s, Director of Communications, and respected broadcaster Tom Leach. A respected voice in Thoroughbred racing with more than a decade of national media experience, Gaudet, who joined Keeneland in 2025, oversees Keeneland’s strategic communications efforts. In ...

Being the informed citizens that Rotarian tend to be, it is likely no surprise to our membership that America has an affordable housing crisis. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), there is a national shortage of over seven million affordable homes for more than 10.8 million extremely low-income families. Why does this matter? Again according to the NLIHC, housing is “the key to reducing intergenerational poverty and increasing economic mobility.” Today’s presenter, Ed Holmes, will make it clear that Lexington/Fayette County is not immune from this crisis. As you will hear, we have a housing gap of over 22,549 units!  He will dig into ...